Dear Friends;
This year’s Parshat Vayeilech vort is being sponsored by Benyamin and Tracy Skriloff of Ramat Beit Shemesh dedicated for the safety of the Chayalim and the liberation of all remaining hostages and their return home without experiencing any further harm, as well as for the good health and security of kol Am Yisrael. To the Skriloff family, many thanks for your sponsorship and for your continued kindnesses.
You can celebrate a Simcha — a birth, a Bar/Bat Mitzvah, a Chassuna or other Simcha event in your life, or commemorate a Yahrtzeit of a loved one, or for whatever other reason by sponsoring a Parshat HaShavua.
Please forward to your relatives and friends and encourage them to sponsor a Parshat HaShavua. And please be in contact with me with any questions, or for further details.
Best Regards,
olehchadash@yahoo.com
skype: mark.burt3
Subscribe to the Israel and the Sin of Expulsion blog, to ask questions or to sponsor a Parsha Vort at: olehchadash@yahoo.com
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This is one of those years where Shabbos Parshat Vayeilech falls out during Asseret Y’mei T’shuvah (the 10 days between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur). It seems the time to take to heart these words from the sefer “Chavot Hal’vovot” (Rabbi Bachya Ibn Paquda), (page 839) :
What a difference there is between [people who follow base instinct] and people whose inner lives are refined, whose innermost beings are pure, whose eyes are serene, whose hearts are full of trust, who delight in remembering Hashem when alone and express thanks for His goodness in every situation.
Early on in Parshat Vayeilech, Torah records:
“Moshe summoned Yehoshua and said to him before the eyes of all Israel, ‘Be strong and courageous, for you shall come with this people to the Land that Hashem swore to give them, and you shall cause them to inherit it.'” (Perek 31, posuk 7 as rendered to English in the Artscroll Stone Edition Chumash)
Torah then adds with Perek 31, posuk 23:
“He [Hashem] commanded Yehoshua ben Nun, and said, ‘Be strong and courageous, for you shall bring the B’nei Yisrael to the Land that I have sworn to give them, and I shall be with you.” (Sefer Devarim, Perek 31, posuk 23 as rendered to English in the Artscroll Stone Edition Chumash)
The Artscroll Stone Edition Chumash provides commentary on Perek 31, posuk 7 as well as posuk 23 (pages 1095, 1099) :
Moshe charges Yehoshua. To add to Yehoshua’s prestige, Moshe charged him in the presence of the nation, telling him that he would lead them. Moshe urged him to be courageous… “For you shall come with this people.” By saying that Yehoshua would come with the people, Moshe implied that Yehoshua should be first among equals. meaning that Yehoshua would share the leadership with the elders, and defer to them. In verse 23, however, Hashem said otherwise. He instructed Yehoshua to bring the nation into the Land, meaning that he [Yehoshua] must be a strong and decisive commander, for a generation cannot have more than one leader. (The Artscroll Stone Edition Chumash citing Rashi) … Or HaChaim clarifies… [Moshe’s] statement could have been interpreted to diminish Yehoshua’s authority over the elders. Hashem clarified that he [Yehoshua] would be the supreme temporal authority.
“You shall bring.” In commanding Yehoshua to bring the people into the Land, Hashem implied that if Yehoshua took the personal initiative in leading them, Hashem would be with him, but if Yehoshua sat back and relied on others, he would not have Divine assistance. (he Artscroll Stone Edition Chumash citing Rashi to Yehoshua 7:10)
On Perek 31, posuk 7 in Parshat Vayeilech, Rabbi Pliskin writes in his Sefer “Growth Through Torah” (page 458) :
Rabbi Meir Simcha HaKohen wrote that this verse, “Before the eyes of all Israel,” can be interpreted that Moshe told Yehoshua to be strong and powerful whenever he was in the presence of the people. Yehoshua was going to take over the leadership of the Jews and a king is commanded in the Torah not to be arrogant. But a leader must be humble in private. As regards dealing with the people, a king has no right to forego his honor. Moshe, the paragon of humility, told his disciple and successor, Yehoshua, that he could not be submissive in his position of authority. Rather, he must be tough as iron for the benefit of the nation. (Rabbi Pliskin citing Meshech Chochmah)
Humility is an awareness of one’s small stature in relation to the entire universe and the infinite greatness of the Almighty. But every trait has its time and place. When in a position of authority, one must insure that one’s commands will be followed. The ideal is for a person [in a leadership position] to have humility in his personal relationships with others, but to be strong and powerful in his position of authority. This strength will be for the greater good of those who are dependent upon him and this renders the trait a virtue.
Perek 31, posuk 7 speaks to this author regarding strength and power, without arrogance, rather than any sign of equivocation. This relates to current Israeli politicos and leadership which seem to lack unity of purpose, and particularly the current military high command which tends to show arrogance in their apparent acquiescence to, or possible incompetence regarding strategy and tactics, thus keeping our courageous chayalim in the field of battle from fighting a war to WIN. The government of Israel seems continuing their reliance upon an unreliable so-called “super power” for much of our military weaponry, rather than having developed home-grown military weaponry, munitions and jet fighter industries.
Yes, the Asseret Y’mei T’shuvah are a time for each individual to take stock of one’s actions and midot, and to correct, refine and improve one’s self. But, in this process, we all, collectively, must also focus on all aspects of mutual caring and respect necessary, person-to-person, as well as on political, governmental and military command levels in order bring about unity among kol Am Yisrael.
Israel’s current victory-oriented strategies in Gaza and attacks in Iran which demolished much of their nuclear facilities, scientists, military leadership, ballistic missiles and ballistic missile manufacturing facilities exemplify positive changes resulting from the appointments of a new defense minister and foreign minister. The pre-emptive actions against Iran are nothing short of miraculous, B’Yad Hashem.
However, the newly appointed military chief of staff, who seemed to be signaling a more zealous, diligent command structure and strategy based on valid understandings of their adversary’s intentions and concern for Israel’s sovereignty and security upon his appointment, now seems to be following in the footsteps of his predecessor in calling for an end to the war in Gaza short of complete victory and eradication of Hamas, i.e. snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, and quite possibly sentencing the remaining living hostages to death to boot.
May our government and military bring total and complete victory over Hamas, their collaborators and the entire terror cabal, B’Yad Hashem, and become Totally self-sufficient as to manufacture of military equipment and aircraft, weaponry, munitions — heavy munitions, as well as showing independence of actions responding to any threat, regardless of so-called “super powers.” And may see, from here on, that border guard personnel at all points of possible danger are listened to and treated with respect and dignity. May we see a Final and Decisive victory by our Chayalim, eradicating Hamas, Islamic Jihad, those so-called “civilians(sic)” who collaborated on 7 October, as well as Hezbollah, the Houthies, the Mullahs of Iran and all their terror accomplices while liberating all remaining hostages, B’Yad Hashem and mandated by a government secure in it’s foremost service of and emunah in HaKadosh Borchu, B’Ezrat Hashem! And may we see the restoration of true unity within Am Yisrael. May these words come to fruition B’Esrat Hashem.
May we, the B’nei Yisrael be zocha that our brethren — the refugee families from Gush Katif e permanently re-settled in Gush Katif, once the IDF, by the Yad Hashem, destructs and eradicates the wild beasts of Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, all other terror entities, and if necessary Iran, and that our brethren be made totally whole — be totally restituted for all that was stolen from them, that the thrice expelled families of Amona be restored to their rebuilt homes and the oft-destroyed Yeshiva buildings in Homesh be rebuilt, as well as the buildings of Yishuv Elchanan, all at total government expense. May our Chayalim return from battle unharmed — physically, mentally and spiritually and may all of the remaining hostages brutally taken by the wild beasts of Hamas be liberated and brought home to their families. Baruch Hashem that our dear brother Jonathan Pollard is now in his fifth year at home in Eretz Yisrael and continues in a new chapter in his life. May Esther Yocheved bat Yechiel Avraham have an aliyah in Shemayim and may her spirit and memory continue to lift Jonathan to at least 120 years. May the MIAs be liberated alive and returned to us in ways befitting Al Kiddush Hashem — as with the return in April, 2019, via Russia, of the remains of Zachariah Baumel, the recent recovery of the remains of Tzvi Feldman as well as the recovery of the remains of Oron Shaul as should the remains of the other chayal from the Gaza War of ten years ago. May we have the courage and strength to stand up and physically prevent the possibility of Chas V’Challila any future eviction of Jews from their homes and prevent Chas V’Challila the handing of Jewish land over to anyone, let alone to enemies sworn to Israel’s and Judaism’s destruction and eradication. May we see, in 5785, the REAL Jews from the Ukraine and Russia as well as the US and Canada, the real Jews via matrilineal descent, make Aliyah enmass — via thorough review by Misrad HaPanim. And may we soon and finally see the total end to the Communist Chinese Wuhan Lab corona virus pandemic and all like viruses and variants. May we fulfill Hashem’s blueprint of B’nei Yisrael as a Unique people — an Am Segula, not to be reckoned with as with “the nations” and may we be zocha to see the Moshiach, the Ge’ula Shlaima, as Dov Shurin sings; “Ki Karov Yom Hashem Al’Kol HaGoyim”, the Ultimate Redemption, bimhayrah b’yamainu — speedily, in our time”, — Achshav, Chik Chuk, Miyad, Etmol!!!
May You, All of My Brothers and Sisters, be Inscribed and Sealed for another Year of Life… Now and always! L’Shana Tova!
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Moshe Burt, an Oleh, is a commentator on news and events in Israel and Founder and Director of The Sefer Torah Recycling Network. He lives in Ramat Beit Shemesh.
Moshe is available for editing of English language documents, articles, manuscripts and more. Please be in contact with him at olehchadash@yahoo.com for your English language needs.
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